As the owner of a small business in Rockford and having held leadership roles in several organizations that focus on the needs of small businesses, I’m writing to express my support for Senate Bill 2758 — the Illinois Secure Choice Savings Program.

The program would create an IRA plan for small businesses in Illinois who are not currently able to offer a retirement savings plan to their employees. Businesses with more than 25 employees that have been in business over two years that do not offer a retirement savings option would be required to participate, and smaller businesses could opt in as well. The retirement accounts would be administered by an independent investment firm, and there would be no ongoing costs to businesses or the state.

The Secure Choice program will help small businesses like mine compete with larger employers that offer retirement packages, helping smaller businesses attract and retain highly qualified employees so that our businesses are sustainable. Small businesses often lose their best employees to larger businesses that have the capacity to offer a more robust benefits package. Not being able to offer a retirement plan means that I have one less tool to encourage my employees to think about their jobs as long-term careers.

As a small business owner, I feel a tremendous sense of personal responsibility for the success of my employees. I want to be able to provide them with the tools they will need to ensure a more secure financial future. I see the Secure Choice program as an investment in the well-being of my employees and the financial future of the Rockford community as a whole.

Beyond this, let’s take a look at the facts:

— Rockford’s economy is 80 percent small business.

— Nationally, only one out of seven small businesses offer a retirement plan.

— 45 percent of working-age households have no retirement savings.

— 71 percent of workers participate in a retirement plan when it is offered by their employer, and only 5 percent participate if their employer does not offer a plan.

— 2.5 million Illinois workers don’t have access to a retirement savings plan.

These facts speak for themselves. I hope my fellow business owners in Rockford — and our elected officials — will support Senate Bill 2758. It is good for businesses. It is good for our employees, and it is good for Rockford.